Tray and pin cushion combination



H. L. KOTKINS TRAY AND PIN CUSHION COMBINATION Oct. 22, 1963 1 Filed May 29, 1961 INVEN TOR. HENRY Harm/vs 1 u n u n u I I I, n i) 2.3;

I II II I.

United States Patent 3,107,832 TRAY AND PIN CUSHION COMBINATION Henry L. Kotkins, Wall St., Seattle, Wash. Filed May 29, 1961, Ser. No. 113,392

3 Claims. (Cl. 223-109) This invention relates to improvements in pin cushion and jewelry tray combinations. More particularly, it has reference to such a combination that is especially designed for use as an accessory in an article of luggage of the character of a suit case, but which is not necessarily restricted for use therein.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a combination, as above stated, wherein the pin cushion portion comprises novel features of construction, formation and in the assembly of its parts that adapts it to be used apart from the tray if such is desired but which may be applied to the tray as a closure or cover for one of its jewelry or trinket containing compartments, and if so applied, will add to the utility and attractiveness of the combination.

Another object of the invention is to provide certain parts for use in the formation of the pin cushion that, by their assembly will give the cushion forming portion an unusual and attractively fluttcd configuration. Furthermore, to so design this cushion shaping member that it will retain the functional position of the cushion on the tray as a protective closure therefor.

Further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details of construction of the cushion and its fiuting plate and in their combination and use with the tray.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are' illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pin cushion and jewelry tray combination embodying the present improvements therein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the various parts of the combination in separated or exploded relationship.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken lengthwise of the tray and cushion.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The present combination comprises three principal parts, viz., the tray 10, the cushion 11 and the cushion shaping and cover plate 12 which serves additionally to retain the cushion in functional position as a closure for one of the compartments.

The tray 10 is of rectangular formation and is divided, as shown in FIG. 2, by two transverse partitions 13 and 14 of lesser height than its sidewalls. Trays presently being made are molded of a suitable plastic material, with a length of approximately twelve inches, a width of about six inches, with sidewalls about two inches high and the partition walls each about one and one-fourth inches high. The tray is strengthened and stiffened by a bead 15 that is molded therewith exteriorly of and about its open top edge portion and similar beads 16 that extend across the under surface of its bottom and up the sidewalls at short distances from its ends. It is to be understood, however, that the ornamentation of the tray is not an important feature of the invention and might be varied as desired t considerable extent.

The cushion portion 11 of the combination, as has been best shown in FIG. 2 comprises a rectangular card or base plate 18 of suitable cardboard, or fibrous material in dimensions substantially to the dimensions of the top of the central compartment of the tray. Applied to the top of this card or plate 18 is a cushion filler material 19, of sponge rubber, or the like, cut to rectangular block form in lesser dimensions than those of the plate 18 and applied 3,107,832 Patented Oct. 22, 1963 symmetrically to its top surface. Overlying the filler block and draped down over its opposite side and end walls is a cover piece 20 of suitable fabric, such'as satin, silk, velvet, or the like, with its peripheral edge portions overlying the peripheral edge portions of the plate 18 and drawn to the under surfaces of these edge portions and glued or otherwise fixed thereto, as shown in FIG. 3.

Fitted about the cushion 11 is the previously mentioned cushion shaping cover member 12. This member is shown to be of such transverse width as to be received in the tray between its opposite sidewalls without looseness as in FIG. 1 and of such length as to extend lengthwise of the tray across the medial compartment thereof as in FIG. 3.

The top portion of the member 12 is slightly upwardly crowned and at its opposite ends has portions 12a and 12b turned vertically downward to overlap the top edges of the transverse partitions 13 and 14 as shown in FIG. 3 thus to support the cushion and properly retain it in the relationship to the tray in which it is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

It is also shown in FIG. 2 that vertical flanges 21 extend along the sides of the cover member 12 and are joined with its downwardly curved end portion. These flanges engage the top edges of the partition walls to support the cushion.

A main feature of the pin cushion formation resides in the provision of a rectangular opening 22 in the upwardly crowned cover member 12 to receive the cushion body upwardly therethrough. This opening 22 is designed with scalloped edges as best shown at 23 in FIG. 2. The dimensions of the opening are lesser than the corresponding dimensions of the cushion forming filler or body so that in the assembly of the cover plate 12 with the cushion the scalloped edges 23 of the opening 22 in being pressed downwardly over the body will cause its covering fabric to be stretched tightly over the filler block and the pad to be formed with a succession of vertical flutes as best shown at 24 in FIG. 1.

When the cover plate 20 is"appl|ied over the cushion, the end edges of the base plate 18 of the cushion will be received between the downturned opposite end walls 12a and 12b of the cover and by hand pressure may be caused to be snapped over cushion retaining ribs 25 formed on their inner surfaces thus to retain the parts in their assembled relationship whereby the ornamental fluting of the sides of the cushion is obtained. When the cushion is applied to the tray, as in FIG. 1, it serves conveniently to receive pins of various kinds, and the various compartments of the tray are readily accessible for jewelry, rings, etc. The tray may be conveniently used in suit cases, bags and various types of luggage and may be lifted out for convenient use on a dressing table or stand.

As so designed the device is serviceable and orn-arnental, and the cushion and closure member are so fitted to the tray that they do not, under usual handling of the case in which they may be applied, become displaced.

What I claim as new is:

l. A tray and pin cushion combination, said tray comprising opposite sidewalls and opposite end walls defining a rectangular article holding compartment, said pin cushion providing a cover member removably applied over said compartment; said cover member comprising a flat base plate, a cushion centrally disposed on said base plate inset from the edges thereof, a piece of flexible cover material applied over and about said cushion and secured about its edges to the corresponding edges of said base plate, a one piece cover plate applied over said base plate and cover material, said cover having a central opening therein for passing the covered cushion upwardly therethrough and defining the bounding sidewall limits of the cushion, said opening being smaller in area than the normal area of said cushion, said cover plate having downturned opposite end portions supported on and overlapped with the top edge portions of said opposite end walls and confining said base plate between them, and said opening in the cover plate having its bounding edges irregularly formed to closely and tightly engage the sidewalls of the covered cushion to shape them accordingly.

2. A tray and pin cushion according to claim 1 wherein the bounding edges of the cover opening are scalloped and the sidewalls of the cushion are formed with vertical fluting in accordance therewith.

'4 3. A combination according to claim 1 wherein ribs are formed horizontally on the inside-surfaces of the downturned opposite end portions of said cover plate for support thereon of the opposite end portions of said base plate as confined between said end portions of the cover plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 561,874 Eager et al. June 9, 1896 1,555,719 Scudero Sept. 29, 1925 1,725,999 Ryder Aug. 27, 1929 1,742,696 Eddy Jan. 7, 1930 

1. A TRAY AND PIN CUSHION COMBINATION, SAID TRAY COMPRISING OPPOSITE SIDEWALLS AND OPPOSITE END WALLS DEFINING A RECTANGULAR ARTICLE HOLDING COMPARTMENT, SAID PIN CUSHION PROVIDING A COVER MEMBER REMOVABLY APPLIED OVER SAID COMPARTMENT; SAID COVER MEMBER COMPRISING A FLAT BASE PLATE, A CUSHION CENTRALLY DISPOSED ON SAID BASE PLATE INSET FROM THE EDGES THEREOF, A PIECE OF FLEXIBLE COVER MATERIAL APPLIED OVER AND ABOUT SAID CUSHION AND SECURED ABOUT ITS EDGES TO THE CORRESPONDING EDGES OF SAID BASE PLATE, A ONE PIECE COVER PLATE APPLIED OVER SAID BASE PLATE AND COVER MATERIAL, SAID COVER HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING THEREIN FOR PASSING THE COVERED CUSHION UPWARDLY THERETHROUGH AND DEFINING THE BOUNDING SIDEWALL LIMITS OF THE CUSHION, SAID OPENING BEING SMALLER IN AREA THAN THE NORMAL AREA OF SAID CUSHION, SAID COVER PLATE HAVING DOWNTURNED OPPOSITE END PORTIONS SUPPORTED ON AND OVERLAPPED WITH THE TOP EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID OPPOSITE END WALLS AND CONFINING SAID BASE PLATE BETWEEN THEM, AND SAID OPENING IN THE COVER PLATE HAVING ITS BOUNDING EDGES IRREGULARLY FORMED TO CLOSELY AND TIGHTLY ENGAGE THE SIDEWALLS OF THE COVERED CUSHION TO SHAPE THEM ACCORDINGLY. 